Apparatus for testing cables



Feb. 3, 194a s. E. BRILLHART 2,435,266

APPARATUS FOR TESTING CABLES Filed Oct. '3, 1.944 2 Sheets-Sheet, 1

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INVENTOR SLZEIBRILLHART v AT'TORME'Y Feb. 3, 1948. s. E. BRILLHART APPARATUS FOR TESTING -GABLES 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Oct. 3, 1944 INVENTOR S. E. 8R LLMRT er fi/ I A TTORNEY Patented Feb. 3.1948

2,435,266 APPARATUS FOR TESTING CABLES Samuel E. Brillhart, Lutherville, Md., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 8, 1944, Serial No. 556,968 2 Claims. (Cl. 28-'l1.3)

This invention relates to apparatus for testing cables, and has for its object the provision of new and improved apparatus for testing cables.

An apparatus constituting one embodiment of the'invention includes means for advancing a cable, means for tensioning a cable advanced by the advancing means, means for measuring the tension applied to the cable, and means for determining electrical characteristics of the cable being tested.

A complete understanding of the invention maybe obtained from thefollowing detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof,,when read in conjunction with the appended drawings,

in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of an apparatus forming one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of a device which may be used with the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of a device which may be used with the apparatus embodying the invention; v

Fig. 4 is an enlarged front elevational view 01 a portion of an apparatus constituting an alternative embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along line 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged front elevational view of a portion of an apparatus constituting another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along line 7-1 of Fig. 6, and

" Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of an electrical testing circuit of the apparatus.

Referring more in detail to the drawings there is shown therein apparatus for testing the continuity of conductors of cables of a type having a plurality of individually insulated conductorsenclosed in a braided metallic sheath, which has great mechanical strength. To test the continuity of the conductors of such a cable large tensile forces must be applied to the cable to open some types of discontinuities in the conductors. Oneapparatus for testing the continuity of conductors of cables while applying hightensile forces to the cables is illustrated in Fig. 1. This apparatus includes a supply .reel ill containing a supply of a cable II, which is to be tested. The cable ii includes four individually insulated'conductors iii-l6 (Fig. 8), which are connected in series,- grounded at one end thereof by a conductor i2, and connected at the other end thereof by a conductor 11 to a slip ring assembly l8 associated with the supply reel Ill causes the lamp 55 to darken and the (Fig. 1). A take-oil? capstan i3 driven by a constant speed electric motor it through a drive l5 serves to advance the cable Ii from the supply reel Hi. I

A tensioning capstan at (Fig. 1) is driven by I a torque motor 2i through a drive 22. A hand wheel 23 of a controller 24 oi a well known type may be turned to adjust the torque of the motor 2| as desired. The torque of the motor H is ad- Justed so that the tensioning capstan 20 places the portion of the cable ll between the tensioning capstan and the take-oi! capstan lii under a predetermined high tension.

The force thus applied to the cable ii may,

be varied from a negligible value to 250 pounds, or more. The capstans l3 and 20 are spaced apart about 100 feet so that the cable is suspended therebetween under conditions simulating those under which the cable is to be used. A pointer 25 (Fig. 1) secured to the handwheel 23 is movable relative to a scale 26 and serves to indicate on the scale the tension which is placed upon the cable Ii for any setting of the controller 24. A take-up reel 30 (Fig. 1) driven by a motor 3! through a belt 32 serves to advance the cable II from the capstan 20 and wind it thereon.

A test set 34 (Figs. 1 and 8) of a conventional type is connected by a conductor 3.3 to the slip ring assembly l8. The conductor 33 is connected to one end of a winding 21 of a relay 28, and the other end of the winding i connected to a conductor 29 of a power line 66. A second conductor 31 of the power line is grounded, is connected by a conductor 38 to a contact of the relay 28, and has a manually operated switch therein. A contactor BI is held in engagement with the contact 35 when the windingz'l is energized, at which time a contactor 52 is held in engagement with a contact 53. The contactc 5|. is connected by a conductor 54 to an incandescent lamp 55, which is connected by a conductor 56 to the conductor 29. The lamp is lighted when both the switch 50 is closed and the winding 21 is energized.

When the winding 21 (Fig. 8) is energized the contactor 62 and the contact 53 are in engagement and close a circuit to conventional motor controllers (not shown), which control the operation of the motors i4, 2i and'3l. When the winding of therelay is deenergized, the engagements are broken between the contactors 5i and 52 and the contacts 35 and 53, respectively. This motors l4, 2i and. 3| to be stopped.

In the operation the apparatus described hereinabove, the end of one of the conductors I5-I6 (Fig. 8) of the cable II is connected by. the conductor I2 to ground, the conductors I 6-I8 are connected in series, and the other end of the series oi the conductors is connected to the slip ring assembly I8. The free end of the cable H then is drawn around the capstans I3 and 20 (Fig, i), and is secured to the take-up reel 36. The switch 50 (Fig. 8) then is closed, whereby the electrical circuit to the winding 21 is closed and a current flows through the conductor 29, the winding 21, the conductor 33, the

I slip ring assembly I8, the conductor I1, the series of conductors Iii-I6, and the grounded conductor I2. The current energizes the winding 21 and the contactors 5i and 52 are brought into engagement with the contacts 35 and 53, respectively, whereby the lamp 55 is lighted and the circuit to the motor controllers (not shown) ls closed thereby indicating that a current is passing through the conductors I6-I6 and enabling the motor controllers to be actuated to start the motors I4, 2| and ill (Fig. 1),

The motors I4, 2i and 3i (Fig. 1) then are energized and the cable I I is tensioned between the capstans I3 and an, as described hereinabove, and the particular tension desired to be placed upon the cable II is obtained by turning the handwheel 23 to adjust the controller 24. This tension is indicated by the reading of the pointer 25 on the scale 26, and, of course, may be varied as desired by adjusting the controller 24. If a discontinuity oi a type requiring tension on the cable to be opened is present in one of the conductors I6-I6 (Fig. 8), it will be opened when the portion of the cable II containing it is positioned between the capstans I3 and 26, which place that portion of the cable I I under ahigh tension. When the discontinuity is opened, the circuit to the winding 21 (Fig. 8) of the relay 28 is opened, the winding is deenergized, and the engagements between the contactors 5i and 52 and the contacts 35 and 53, respectively, arediscontinuity is located and may be marked for subsequent repairs.

The tensioning apparatus described hereinabove may be' calibrated by a calibrating device 36 (Fig. 3). which includes a. tension scale 40. A short cable 4| 49 of the scale 40 so that a loop 41 of the cable 4! is formed between the hook 48 and the ring 49. The terminals 42-42 then are placed in interlocking and connecting engagement with a pair of terminals 43-43 of a pair of cables 39-39,

which are identical with the cable II. One of the cables 39-39 then is placed over thecapstan I3 and the other cable is placed over the capstan 20. Next, the motors I4 and 2I are energized and the tension on the cables 35-39 for any particular setting of the pointer25 of the handwheel 23 relative to the scale 26 may be marked on the scale 26. A sufficient number of tests of the tensions for the various settings of the pointer 25 and the controller may be conducted and the scale 26 marked accordingly so that the pointer will indicate thereon the tension applied to the having interlocking terminals .42-42, thereon is secured to a hook 48 and a ring A block 44 (Fig. 2) has a plurality oi grooved sheaves 45-45 rotatably mounted thereon by a plurality 01 pins 45-48. The sheaves 45-45 are mounted in staggered relationship upon the block 44 and form a sinuous path for the cable I I when the block 44 is positioned along the path of the cable advanced from the capstan I3 to the capstan 25. The sheaves 45-45 are designed to have the cable II pass therearound and serve to flex the cable II when it is advanced thereover, whereby any discontinuities in the conductors I6I6 of the cable II will be shown by the test set 34. The block and the sheaves may be used very advantageously to flex both spliced and unspiiced portions of cables.

An apparatus forming an alternative embodiply of a cable III to be tested. The conductors of the cable III are connected in series, and one end thereof is connected to ground by a conductor H2. A take-oil capstan H3 is positioned in alignment with the supply reel I III and the cable I II is drawn over the capstan II3 by a tensioning capstan (not shown), which is similar to the capstan 20 and is driven by a constant speed motor (not shown). The capstan H3 (Fig. 5) is fixed to a shaft I I4 of a gear box III of standard construction, which shaft is rotatably mounted in a bearing H5 fixed on a standard H6. A flanged gear I2Il fastened rigidly to the shaft H4 is provided with a plurality of internal teeth I2I-I2I, which mesh with gears I22-I 22 mounted on stub shafts I23-I23. The stub shafts I23-I23 are mounted rotatably in bearings I24-I24 formed in a housing I25, which encloses the gears I20 and I22'-I22.

A gear I30 (Fig. 5), which meshes with the gear I22, is secured to an end of a brake shaft on the shafts H4 and I28, which are axially aligned. A bracket I40 is secured to the housin and brackets I4I-I4I are secured to the standards H6 and I32. Compression springs I42-I42 positioned between the brackets I 4I-I4I and the bracket I40 urge the housing I25 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4. The clockwise movement of the housing I25 is limited by an ad- Justable stop screw I45, which serves as a stop for a pointer I43 secured to thehousing I25. The screw I45 has a pair of nuts I43-I46 threaded thereon, which secure the screw adjustably to a support I41 secured to the standard I32. The sup ort I41 holds the screw I45 in any adjusted position and also serves to support a scale I44. The pointer I43 moves along the scale I44 when the housing I25 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction against the action of the springs I42-I42.

In the operation of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs, 4 and 5, one end of the conductors of the cable III is connected to a test set (not shown), which is identical with the test set 34 (Figs. 1 and 8), and is advanced by a tensioning capstan (not shown) from the supply reel IIO (Fig. 4) and around the take-off capstan rotation of the capstan H3 is braked by the action of the brake shoes I34-I34, which frictiontionally grip the brake drum I33. Since the brake drum I33'is fastened to the shaft I26, it retards the rotation of the shaft I26, which thereby retards the rotation of the gears I22--I22 through the gear I30. The gears I22-I22 retard the rotation of the gear I20, whereby the shaft H4 and the capstan 3 are braked and a high tension is applied to the portion of cable I I I being advanced to the tensioning capstan.

Since the gear I30 (Fig. 5) tends to retard the rotation of the gears I22-I22 and the gear I tends to rotate the gears l22- -I22, the force applied to the gears I22-I22 tends to revolve these gears, the shafts l23 -l23and the housing I25 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig.

4. The rotation of the housing I25 is resisted by the compression springs I42-I42, which bear against the bracket I40. .However, the housing is rotated against the action of the springs proportionately to the amount of tension placed upon the cable III, whereby the pointer I43 is moved along the scale I44 to a position in which it indicates the amount of tension applied to the cable. The conductors of the cable I II then are tested in a manner similar to that outlined hereinabove in the first-described embodiment of the invention. The scale I44 can be calibrated by the calibrating device 36, so that the pointer I43 provides a visual indication of the tension applied to thecable,

An apparatus constituting a third embodiment from a supply reel (not shown) and over a take- II3, whereby the capstan [I3 is rotated. The,

oil? capstan. which is driven by a constant speed motor (not shown), whereby the cable is placed under a high tension. The amount of tension is indicated by the reading of the pointer 23I on the scale 232.

-The conductors of thecable 2| I (Figs. 6 and 7) then are connected in series, one end thereof is connected to a test set (not shown) in a manner similar to that described hereinabove in the :ie-v

. scription of the first-described embodiment of the invention, and the, test set serves to supply an electric current to the conductors under test and indicates discontinuities in one of the conductors.

The apparatus just-described may be calibrated by the calibrating device 36 as described hereinabove.

' The apparatus described hereinabove serves to place cables under high tensions, measures accurately the tension applied to cables, and tests the continuity of conductors of the cables, all being accomplished in rapid and inexpensive testing operations. It also serves at alltimes to give a visual indication of the amount of tension applied to cables whose conductors are under test, whereby the amountof the tension applied to the cables can be controlled closely.

What is claimed is: i 1. In a testing apparatus, a capstan for advancing a conductor, a second capstan over which is advanced a conductor advanced by the firstincludes a tensioning capstan 220, over which a cable 2| I is placed and which is driven by a variable torque motor 22I through a chain drive 222. The motor 22I includes an armature shaft 223, which is rotatably mounted in bearings 224- 224 supportedmy standards 225-225.

A bracket 226 (Fig. 7) secured to a housing 229 of the motor HI and the housing are urged in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 7', by a compression spring 230, which is mountedbetween the bracket 226 and a fixed bracket 221. The housing 229 is free to rotate around the shaft 223 except as limited in one direction by the action of the compression spring 230 and in the other direction by a stop screw'234, which is adjustably secured to the housing by nuts 235-235. The

stop screw 234 serves to strike an abutment plate means for selectively adjusting the controller, and means operable 'by the controller-adjusting means .for indicating the amount oi tension placed upon the conductor. a

230, whereby the pointer 23l is moved along the scale 232. to indicate the'tension applied to the cable 2I I. A takeup reel 240 (Fig. 6) serves to wind the cable 2 thereon as the cable is advanced by the capstan 220.

In the operation oi the just-described apparatus, the cable 2 is drawnby the capstan 220 mentioned capstaman electric motor tending to rotate the second capstan at a predetermined peripheral rate of speed, a torque motor for applyin'g a torque to the first-mentioned capstan,

whereby the conductor is tensioned, a controller Ijor controlling the torque of the torque motor, a handwheel for operating the controller, a fixed scale, and a pointer secured to the handwheel for indicating on the scale the-amount of tension placed upon the conductor.

2. In a testing apparatus, a capstan for advancing a conductor, a second capstan over which is advanced a conductor advanced by the firstmentioned capstan, an electric motortending to;

rotate the secondcapstan at a predetermined peripheral rate of speed, a torque motor for 'a-D- plying a torque to the first-mentioned capstan whereby the conductor is tensioned, 'a controller for controlling the torqueof the'torque motor,

semiarn. BRILLHART. REFERENCES orrsn The following references are of record in'the file oi this patent: a UNI'I'ED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,962,029 Murphy et al. June 6, 1934 2,177,489 Jamleson Oct. 24, 1939 2,359,170 Symmes, Sept. 26, 1944 1,955,540 Ellis et a1. Apr. 17, 1934 2,114,400 Parvln -2--- Apr. 19, 1938 1,927,045- Parsons Sept. 19, 1933 

